Day 2–Denver Museum of Nature and Science then onward to RMNP

Monday morning, Little Bird and I quickly packed up our overnight bag, ate a continental breakfast, and loaded up the car.  Even though we were off on an adventure in the wilderness, we decided to spend the morning in Denver to adjust to the altitude a bit before climbing into the Rockies.  One of my favorite places in Denver is the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  This grizzly bear statue we are sitting in front of has been here for ages.  There are pictures of my dad as a small child standing next to it from his family’s vacations.

This museum has a little bit of everything.  There is an incredible space exhibit with a large model of earth (seen here to the right) and a hands on “Space Training Center” for small children. 

Grandma and Grandpa helped Little Bird suit up for flight!  There were flight suits for ages 2-5, moon rocks to move, ship controls to push, pull, twist, and turn, and Little Bird had a blast!

 

 

 

There is also a wonderful exhibit that shows with very good visual models the theories of evolution and development of creatures overtime.  Little Bird enjoyed the ocean floor exhibits but was very impressed by the many dinosaur fossils throughout the museum.  In case you were wondering, all dinosaurs say “ROAR!!!!!” and must be pointed out with exclamations of “Oh My!”

 

We also journeyed through the wildlife of America exhibits and looked at stuffed and staged animals from the Colorado landscape that we would be seeing on this trip (and some that would allude us).  After a very busy morning, we ate lunch at Casa Bonita, watched the water fall divers, then headed up into the mountains.

 

Of course, we had to stop in Loveland, CO to take a picture with a miniature statue of liberty.

In exchange, I got to make the family stop at the Dam Store to take pictures on our way up Big Thompson Canyon and into Estes Park.

 

 

Day 2 also led to us seeing Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer, Coyotes, Chipmunks, Ground Squirrels and many beautiful birds.

 

We set up camp, ate beans and hotdogs, and drifted to sleep….well Little Bird did.  I worried about bear attacks for a while.  Our campsite was the furthest from the rest of the campers (and the bathroom) you could possibly sleep at.  Great for seeing wildlife, bad for pregnant women who need to use the restroom a lot.